Killing Two Birds with One Stone:
Building a local program to maintain your stormwater practices and prevent pollution from your municipal
operations
Presented By:
Tom Schueler
Center for Watershed Protection
Nikos Singelis
U.S. EPA
Special thanks to J. Zielinski, M. Novotney, D. Hirschman, J. Kosco, S. Sanghavi and Ablemarle County, VA
Webcast Outline Introduction and Polling Questions Post Construction Stormwater Maintenance
Top Ten Maintenance Headaches Scoping a Local Maintenance Program Ten Tips for Building an Effective Maintenance
Program Pollution Prevention for Municipal Maintenance
Operations Municipal Operations Analysis
Maintenance can be
depressing
Mainten
nceBUDGET25%
WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR MAINTENANCE BURDEN in 6 WEEKS
Vegetation management
SEDIMENT CLEANOUTS
BMPs
LID
Maintenance Improves Water Quality
Maintenance Headaches
These are the reasons why it is important to have a maintenance program
1. Sediment Toxicity
Sediments can be toxic…
2. Trash and Debris
3. Mosquitoes & West Nile
I just love them BMPs!
4. Unruly Vegetation
There used to be a BMP in here
somewhere…
5. Access Denied
NO ACCESS
Maintain this!
I can’t even get down there!
6. Bankrupt Homeowners
What do you mean we’ve got to maintain it?
7. No Local StaffTO DO:Clean Catch BasinsSweep StreetsInspect BMPs Maintain BMPsRestore Streams
Local Stormwater Manager
Who’s gonna do all this
work?
8. Tiny On-Lot BMPs
Stormwater BMPs
Look at those tiny BMPs
9. Missing BMPs
That pond’s got to be around here somewhere...
I thought this was supposed to be a sand
filter
10. BMPs That Make the News
Maintenance Scoping Questions How many BMPs do you expect? Where will they be located? Public vs. private maintenance? Extent & level of service provided? How frequently to inspect? How many existing BMPs already? Legal mechanisms to enforce it?
Poll Question 4 Who has the primary maintenance responsibility in your community?
(A) Haven’t figured it out yet.
(B) Private landowner or homeowner association
(C) Public sector or local government
(D) Hybrid of private and public sector
(E) Outsourced to Indian subcontinent
Poll Question 6: Which shocking statements are not supported in a survey of Phase II communities?
(A) 50% lack a maintenance program
(B) 40% do not know where their BMPs are located
(C) 58% lack legally binding maintenance agreements
(D) Most are doing “pretty good”
(E) 77% report they inspect BMPs during construction
Source: CWP, 2006: Survey of Post Construction Programs and Practices in 94 MS4 Communities
The Life Cycle Approach to Stormwater Maintenance
Plan Review
Unified View of Stormwater Infrastructure
BMPs
Conveyance Black Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure
Level of Service:•Complaint-Driven/Political
•Schedule
•Inspection Reports
•Routine (mowing) vs. Corrective (fixing pipes)
Budgeting for Maintenance Local Program
Address Extent & Level of Service
In-House vs. Contracted Services Staff Equipment Administration Tracking/GIS Other
Building a Better Stormwater Maintenance Program
Most local programs exist on a shoestring but some very small early investments can yield major reductions in long-term maintenance costs for the community as a whole
Here are ten tips that have worked in small communities
1. Reduce Maintenance Burden Before Construction Reduce maintenance headaches with tough design standards…
if you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it! Thorough plan review ensures design standards are properly
implemented Review the plan as if you were the maintenance crews Get standards off the books and onto site plans
Good examples of BMP design standards to reduce maintenance burdenCan be found in Resource 1
Plan Review Checklist Pretreatment Access Landscaping Plan
Updated BMP Plan Review Checklists can be found in Resource 2
Make Sure it’s the Right BMP for the Site
Don’t Design for Costly Sediment Removal
Make sediment removal operations quick, easy and cheap
No access – No Mow - No Maintenance
Still ain’t good
Side-slope control and access roads
That’s better…
What will the vegetation look like in 10 years?
Still looking for that BMP…
Long-term landscaping plan essential
There it is…
These Maintenance Guidance Documents Can be Found in Resource X
2. Get Ironclad Easements
Access Easements Drainage Easements
(conveyance)
Decisions: Dedicated to Public? Deeds?
3. Tough Construction Inspections Before Acceptance
Updated Construction Inspection Checklists can be found in Resource 3
4. Use Maintenance Agreements & Bonds
Agreements in property deed
Construction Bond Maintenance Bond? Maintenance Plan based on
type of BMP
Model Maintenance Agreements and Performance Bond Estimator in Resource 4
5. Routine Inspections Annual Inspection Frequency Detailed Checklists Third party inspections Measure where possible Issue direct work orders for
problem BMPs 1 FTE: 250 to 500 BMPs
Model Maintenance Inspection Forms Can be Found in Resource 5
6. Enforcement and Corrective Actions Education first Stages of Enforcement When/How to pursue
corrective actions Remedies to Collect
Enforcement Tools Can be Found in Resource X
7. Synchronize field and office data
8. BMP Tracking & Documentation GIS-Based System to store photos and inspection reports
Basis for required MS4 reporting Database/spreadsheet records
No. of InspectionsNo. of BMPs MaintainedNo. of Violation NoticesNo. of Corrective ActionsCommon Maintenance Problems.
Inventory
ConditionAssessment
Tracking to Manage Stormwater Assets
MaintenanceRemediation
Work Plan Budget $
Cyclical Inspections
GIS Updates
System Maintenance
ConditionMonitoring
database (full size)
9. BMP Maintenance Triage System
Condition 3: Notify Owner to PerformRoutine Maintenance
Condition 2: Major Repair/FunctionalEnhancement
Failed infiltration basin to Extended Detention with Micro-pools
Failed infiltration basin to Wet Swale
Triage Condition 1: Reconstructive BMP Surgery
By 2010, maintain functional adequacy of Stormwater facilities at 90%.
688
264
101
739
251
63
857
224
135
877
323
128
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Retrofit Design / Functional Enhancement
Major Maintenance Repair
Functioning as Designed
YEARFunctioning
asDesigned
MajorMaintenance
Repair
RetrofitDesign /
FunctionalEnhancement
TOTAL
2002 688 264 101 1053
2003 739 251 63 1053
2004 857 224 135 1216
2005 877 323 128 1328
2006
10. Track Functional Performance of Stormwater BMPs
11. Educate and Involve the Maintainers
Adopt-A-Pond Volunteer Clean-Ups Publications, Mailings
Adopt-a-Pond Guidance Can be Found in Resource 6
12. Co-Inspections
Owner interaction notification of program
reinstatement “owner’s manual” (shown) invited to accompany inspections workshops provide maintenance plans
20 MUNICIPAL HOTSPOTS You can Inspect!SWEEP THE STREETS
•Winter sanding •Roadside spraying •Pollution hotlines
STORM DRAINCLEANOUTS
Employee training
Municipal Operations Analysis
Do a quick eight step checkup to review how well your ongoing municipal operations are aligned with stormwater quality
Municipal Operations
Sanitary Sewer
MS4
Utility repair and Utility repair and replacementreplacement
Road Road MaintenanceMaintenance
Storm Storm System System MaintenanceMaintenance
LandscapingLandscaping
Vehicle Vehicle MaintenanceMaintenance
Buildings/facilitiesBuildings/facilities
1. Street Sweeping for Water Quality
We sweep a lot, but not very wisely Over 13 million spent on sweeping in CB Basin alone Get WQ improvement by targeting
Focus on the dirtiest streets Select most effective sweepers Determine optimal sweeping routes and schedules
Poll Question 8 What is the least frequently cited reason why communities sweep their streets?
(A) Aesthetics
(B) Public complaints
(C) Keep storm drains clear
(D) Street safety
(E) Improve water quality
Source: Law, 2006: Survey of Chesapeake Bay Street Sweeping/Storm drain cleanout practice
Percentage of communities that report sweeping some streets more frequently than 1x/yr
2x/year (14%)
Monthly (20%)
2x/month (9%)
Weekly (17%)
Daily (14%)
Other(26%)
CWP Street Sweeping Research ProjectDue out in 2007
2. Targeted Catch Basin Cleanouts
No two catch basins are the same Measure pollutant accumulation using SSD and GPS
the system Train crews to understand stormwater quality and find
illicit discharges Target problem catch basins for intensive cleaning (2
to 4X/year)
Storm Drain Inlet Conditions
The Bad The UglyThe Good
Review of Catch Basin Studies Only a handful of studies monitored the pollutant reduction
and the optimal frequencies for cleanouts at a catchment scale. Cleanouts may reduce pollutants by 5 to 25% depending on
catchment conditions, cleaning frequency and type of pollutant.
Pollutant removal capability of catchbasins is constrained by their design
Law, 2006: Literature Review of Pollutant Removal Performance of Street Sweeping/Catch Basin Cleanouts
3. Inspect Every Municipal Hotspot Fleet storage/maintenance School bus depots Landfills/solid waste facilities Public works yards Municipal parking lots Maintenance depots Wastewater treatment plants Aviation facilities
Physician, heal thyself
Poll Question 9: A stormwater hotspot is defined as:
(A) An activity that increases water temperature in streams
(B) The point in a channel with maximum runoff velocity
(C) A watering hole for stormwater geeks
(D) An operation or activity that generates higher concentrations of stormwater pollutants and/or presents a high risk of spills, leaks or illicit discharges.
Hotspot Site Investigation
SeeSWRM Manuals
8 and 11
Vehicle Operations Outdoor Material Waste Management Physical Plant Turf / Landscaping Areas Unique Operations
These Two Manuals are indispensible and can be ordered from www.cwp.org
What Works at Municipal Hotspots?What Works at Municipal Hotspots?
Pollution Prevention Plans that. . . Involve and list all responsible departments Focus on specific activities and include achievable BMPs Focus on maintenance of controls Address pollutants of concern Consider seasonal variations Change often Reflect staff input and ideas
4. Link Road Maintenance to WQ Review current sanding/salting practices Check pesticide application in road right of way Change truck washout procedures Keep sawcut slurry out of storm drain Road crew training
Don’t Forget Other Infrastructure
DOT
Sewer Utility
5. Landscaping and Recreational Practices
Survey parks, public golf courses, sports fields and waterfront/greenways to: Minimize Use of Fertilizer/Pesticide Manage Landscape Waste Use Native Vegetation Prevent Municipal Swimming Pool Discharge Manage Trash and Pet Wastes
6. New Public Construction •Exceed the minimum required for the private sector•Demonstrate innovative stormwater practices •Utilize projects for stormwater education
7. Employee & Contractor Training Don’t show this slide
Training for Municipal Staff
• Provide general and activity specific training • General awareness training for all city employees
(impact on water quality, illicit discharge identification and response, etc.)
• Regular and targeted training for employees based on the activities they perform
• Provide materials for easy, frequent refreshers
Training for Municipal Staff • Teach employees that their actions have an impact on
water quality and they are examples for the community
• Link your employee training with your public education message
• Create recognizable links between pollutants of concern and uses they enjoy/value
Training for Municipal StaffTraining for Municipal Staff
• Additional Forms of Training New employee orientation Paychecks or other routinely distributed materials Signage in the workplace and a place/number to report
issues Frequent tailgate sessions
8. Pollution Hotline and Response
Single phone number or website where citizens can easily report illicit discharges and pollution concerns
Cross-trained staff Response within 24 hours Watershed addressing